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Taverna

4.1 (368 reviews)
ModerateItalian, Bars, Pizza
Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago
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Business Info

TAVERNA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Classy
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Taverna

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Reviews With Photos

The daily special with pasta, chicken, roasted peppers. Delicious.

Had the most delicious dinner here at Taverna. A nice Italian menu with delicious, generous portions of yummy dishes. A nice atmosphere, good service from the staff , and great food makes for a nice meal out.

Four cheese white pizza
Shawn F.

Great restaurant option in downtown Newark. Vibrant Saturday in town and so made reservations in advance---good thing as many restaurants had waiting lines. From the wine selection, starters, to dinner this was a great dinning experience. The truffle butter garlic bread offered a great twist on traditional garlic bread. Four cheese while pizza was perfect. Tried the red wine on tap.....better than expected! Lastly, wait staff was great even though the place was packed!

Gabriel C.

I've visited Newark, Delaware, several times now. My wife's father lives here, so our trips have usually been about family and conversation. Today was different. I wanted to explore Newark itself -- the vibrant hometown of the University of Delaware. After walking around campus, I wandered down Main Street, a stretch filled with small shops, hotels, restaurants, and bars. Coincidentally, today was also No Kings Day -- a nationwide rally protesting the Trump administration. The journalist in me couldn't resist capturing a few moments from this historic day. Eventually, I ducked into a hidden spot between buildings -- Taverna, an Italian restaurant that's been part of Newark since 2012. The atmosphere struck the perfect balance between casual and romantic -- ideal for dinner or a quiet drink at the long marble bar. I found a seat, ordered a Borgo Magredo Friuli Pinot Noir (nine ounces, but let's keep that between us), and took in the room's warm buzz. The experience was everything I love about traveling -- finding good wine, good people, and a reminder of the freedoms we enjoy in this country. If you find yourself in Newark -- whether you're visiting or you've lived here all your life -- I highly recommend Taverna. I plan to return one day, not just for another glass, but for a full meal and more time to soak in its charm.

Sun dried tomato dipping sauce  loaded with herbs , garlic, and red chile flakes.
Beth K.

The veal meatballs with quality ingredients and the polenta surrounding the meatballs were delish. (3) The melt in your mouth meatballs were so good ! The Italian bread served with the "olive oil bread dip ", with added sun-dried tomato, was an "Italian bread of deliciousness. " So here's the dilemma eating on Sunday from 11:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. is " Sunday brunch " and I don't do brunch . The cooks are cooking off this brunch menu which is the priority and unfortunately not the " lunch menu". Taverna let me order off the lunch menu " Chicken Taverna" which is basically Chicken piccata. The chicken was so DRY DRY DRY there was no marinade absorbed in this DRY chicken. The breaded chicken was reheated and the capellini was Mushy. Pasta becomes mushy when overcooked when the starches break down and texture is soft. Capellini is easy to overcook due to its thinness. The flavor was there but the pasta was not al dente and the chicken being so DRY even the tantalizing sauce on the chicken cannot help the reheated dry chicken. Taverna missed the mark with "Taverna Chicken ". Insert sad face. The tiramisu was rich and perfectly layered. I would have to say one of the best I ever had! I do want to note the FOH manager was glued to Eagles game and not the FOH and not communicating with BOH. There was no need to tell any one of the mushy pasta and dry chicken because we were not asked. I will be back in Newark next month and may give Taverna another try but never ever on a Sunday ! LOL

Calamarata
Zara T.

Popped in after playing a game at the University of Delaware and it was definitely the right choice! Our server was friendly and helpful, keeping our waters filled and explaining dishes on the menu. We could add protein to any dish, which was helpful for me as a mushroom lover. We ordered 3 dishes from the main entrees section of the menu and all were delicious!!! I would order any again (see photos). They also had wine on tap and different specials throughout the day. The veggies on the shrimp dish tasted so fresh and were done just right. We asked for chili oil on the side, which was good for peace of mind. The calamarata might have been my favorite, just so light and creamy and perfect. As mentioned, I added chicken to my mushroom agnolotti for extra protein. So yummy! There was indoor and outdoor seating, and while it was dark in the building, it felt very cozy. I was in town for the weekend to play a tournament, but if I return I will definitely be back!

Truffle garlic bread

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11 years ago

I stopped by here for lunch with a small group. Fantastic coal oven pizza. Several good vegetarian options available.

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9 years ago

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13 years ago

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12 years ago

Best Italian Restaurant I have been to in Newark. Original menu Items and very consistent.

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12 years ago

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10 years ago

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10 years ago

excellent food and service. have the best pork sandwich we've ever tasted. the cannoloni is exceptional. and portion sizes are perfect.

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10 years ago

We were there on a Sunday night. Service was rushed and not friendly. Chicken was awful.

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14 years ago

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10 years ago

After a bad experience at Taverna, I have gone back at least 4 times - the food has been excellent, great beer selection and friendly staff.

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Page 9 of 10

Ask the Community - Taverna

Are there vegan options here?

Yes. We had a vegan in our dining party. There were lots of options. Just be sure to tell then you are vegan.

Good for kids?

It's not my first choice for kids. I find that the menu is "adult" for all intents and purposes. While there's no specific reason to not take the entire family, I'd likely opt for another place.

Are there good vegetarian options?

It's okaaaay. There are usually options present, but not an abundance. That's for a traditional vegetarian; vegans will have even more difficulty.

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Taverna - italian - Updated October 2026

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